ZAGREB, Feb 28, 2020 - Croatian Economy Minister Darko Horvat chaired a meeting of the Competitiveness Council in Brussels on Thursday for the first time, as part of Croatia's presidency of the Council of the EU, which discussed matters of immediate importance for the EU economy, the ministry said in a press release.
Commissioner Thierry Breton reported on the impact of coronavirus on the EU economy and the measures that have been taken. He underlined how important it is that the Commission and the member states continue to exchange information and coordinate action at both EU and national levels in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and limit its impact on the economy.
Also discussed was the European Green Deal, the switch to a circular economy and the Union's ambition to become the first self-sufficient continent by 2050.
"Without a modern industry, it won't be possible to reshape our society for a sustainable, climate neutral and digital future. That's why we need considerable investment in all of Europe, and it's crucial that we continue to promote new forms of cooperation with industry and put special emphasis on investment in strategic value chains," said Horvat.
Also discussed were the findings of a report on the effectiveness of the single market, and the Council unanimously adopted conclusions on better regulations.
Horvat underlined the importance of better regulations in removing administrative barriers for businesses and facilitating doing business in all of the EU, as well as of including the interested public in the legislative process with a view to ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The informal part of the meeting discussed artificial intelligence.
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